Clasp or buckle



(No Model.)

B. S. SMITH.

CLASP OR BUCKLE. g I No. 338,792. Patented Mar. 30, 1886.

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UNITED STATES.

PATENT CEEicE.

EDIVARD S. SMITH, OF \VATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

CLASP OR BUCKLE.

CPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,792, dated March 30, 1886.

Application filed September 15, 1885. Serial No. 177,135.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD S. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vater bury, county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Spring Clasps or Buckles, fully described and represented in the following specification, andthe accompanying drawings, forming apart of the same.

The object of this invention is the production of a spring clasp or buckle simple in structure and composed of parts formed, connected, and related so that when the buckle is closed it may be locked, while the opening of its holding-lever shall be opposed by a spring of considerable power, and which spring shall, during the opening and closing movement of the holding-lever, apply such africtional resistance to its movement as to cause the same to be evenly made or enable it to stand in any position to which it may be moved, at the same time admitting the holding-lever tobe extended forward in an appropriate position to receive the locking v member with which it is to be engaged. An-

other object attained by the construction is the production of a clasp or buckle, the total thickness of which is comparatively small, and thus does not tend to unduly project beyond the surface to which it is attached.

The invention consists in the novel structure and combination of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and claimed.

In the drawings illustrating this invention, Figure 1 is a plan View of the clasp or buckle open. Fig. 2 is a similar View with the holding-lever closed, but having its long arm re moved. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the clasp or buckle closed and its holding-lever engaged with a fastening or looped plate; and Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are plan views respectively illustrating the blanks composing the top plate, the bottom plate, and the holding-lever. Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing a modification of the plate B and its bearing 5.

The body of the buckle is composed of two plates, A B, one or both made of spring metal and united together in any suitable way, as by rivets C. The bottom-plate, A, has side arms, 2 3, united by a narrow bar, 4, that constitutes a. pintle for the holding-lever E to swing on. The top plate, B, carries at its (No model.)

front end a bearer, 5, that cooperates with the knuckle of the lever E, and this plate is perforated, as at D, so as to provide a means for fastening the clasp or bucklein place. The holding-lever E is formed from a blank (see Fig. 8) of a width suiting it to turn between the arms 2 3. Its inner end is slotted centrally, so that when this end is curved or bent to form the knuckle 8 the inner portion of said knuckle will be provided with a recess, 6, in proper relation for coaction with the bearer 5 of the top plate, B. Preferably the bearer 5 and recess 6 are arranged centrally, and have somewhat narrow proportions, but there may be two of them, or their longitudinal dimensions may be increased. The body of the lever E is bent so as to form a holdback, 9, and a rearwardly-extending arm, as is common. This construction of the parts is such that when the holding-lever E is mounted to turn upon the pintle 4, and is closed, as in Figs. 2, 8, 5, the bearer 5 of the plate B will lie in the recess 6 of the plate A, and reaching through the knuckle 8 rest upon the pintle 4 of the lower plate, thus leaving the holdinglever loosely hung on the pintlc and prevented from unduly moving, being confined against an opening movement by the abutment 10 of the knuckle engaging the under side of the bearer 5, (see Fig. 5,) in which relation the parts of the clasp or buckle are in position to secure the attachingplate T, as in Fig. 3.

In the operation of opening the clasp or buckle to release the attaching-plate T the holdingdever is raised and thrown forward. In this movement the abutment 10 immediately engages the under side of the bearer 5, and thus forces the plates A B apart, their spring-power being applied to the knuckle of the holding-lever as a brake opposing its free movement. This continues so long as thelever is being moved from the position of Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 4L, and vice versa, and when the rearward position is attained, as in Fig. 5, the abutment 10 and bearer 5 form a lock securing the closed position of the clasp or buckle.

Of course the pintle 4 may be provided in connection with the plate B and the bearer 5 be upon the plate A.

Instead of the bearer 5 being raised above the plane of the plate B or curved, it may, as in Fig. 9, lie in the same plane and be fiat.

What is claimed is 1. In spring clasps or buckles, the combination,with a holding-lever the knuckle of which is provided with a recess, as 6, of a bearer car- 5 ried by the body of the clasp or buckle,adapted to engage with said recess, substantially as described.

2. A body-plate for a spring clasp or buckle, one member of which is provided with a pin- 10 tle, as 4, and the other with a bearer, as 5, adapted to co-operate with a recessed lever, substantially as described.

3. A spring clasp or buckle, consisting of a body-plate comprised in two-members, one of .which is provided with a pintle, 4, and the 15' other with a bearer, 5, and a holding-lever hung to swing on the pintle 4, and having its knuckle provided with a recess, as 6, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my 20 hand in'the presence of two subscribing wit:

nesses.

EDWARD S. SMITH. Witnesses:

GEO. H. GRAHAM, J AS. J. KENNEDY. 

